19th August 2009
On Aug. 4, a panel of three federal judges ordered California to reduce its prison population to address grossly deficient medical and mental healthcare systems behind bars. The ruling makes for harrowing reading.
2nd August 2009
An article in 'The Observer' reports on an increase in funding for alternative punishments for female offenders, and a drive to find ways of helping those women at risk of offending.
2nd July 2009
A landmark report into the prison system has been published today. The report of the Commission on English Prisons Today takes a radical look at the purposes and limits of a penal system and how it should sit alongside other social policies.
11th June 2009
Much progress has been made in Scottish prisons over the past seven years, but many frustrations remain, Dr Andrew McLellan, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, says in his final report published today.
9th June 2009
Locking up prisoners for short periods of six months or less could endanger public safety, prison chiefs [in Scotland] have said. There are limits to the rehabilitation work that can be done, with inmates also exposed to a "university of crime", according to an article in today's Carrick Gazette
13th May 2009
A new research report from Barnardos entitled 'Written Out Written Off' highlights that a lack of education inhibits the potential of children suffering from disadvantage.
18th March 2008
A BBC study of Europe's largest prison outside Paris shows how French prison management is now recommending capping prison size at 600 prisoners.
1st March 2008
More than one in a 100 adult Americans are now in prison, a higher rate of incarceration than at any time in US history that is pushing the budgets of several states to breaking point, a report warns. Last year, all 50 states between them spent $44 billion on running their prisons.
24th February 2008
Britain's overfilled jails are at 'panic stations' as they lurch from crisis to crisis, the chief inspector of prisons warns in an Observer interview today that will make uncomfortable reading for the government.
24th September 2007
The growing number of women taking their own lives while in prison will be highlighted this week when a leading campaigner is put on trial for protesting outside a jail.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.